Monday 20 May 2013

Lapwing's Nest and Camera Advice Please

 
Pry House Farm is a haven for bird watchers.  We have birds of every description here but particularly lots and lots of ground nesting birds.  I have walked through our pastures many times with lapwings and curlews swooping and calling a warning overhead but I have never come across a nest.  The birds generally build their nests in amongst clumps of rushes making it even harder to spot them however this lapwing's nest is on open ground, in quite an exposed place.  I keep wondering if the lapwing in question is a new mum, yet to develop the skill of choosing a discrete place to lay her eggs and hopefully, rear her young. Despite its position in the middle of the field it is surprisingly difficult to see unless you know exactly where it is.  
 
 
I am keeping my fingers crossed that she succeeds in hatching her eggs and rearing some chicks.  If she does I will keep you updated and this is where my plea for help with some camera advice comes in.  There is so much wildlife here that I would like to photograph but my little digital camera is just not up to the job.  Can anyone recommend a suitable beginners camera with a good zoom that would take good shots of birds, sheep, lambs etc.  It would need to be fairly idiot proof (okay, very idiot proof) and not too complicated to use as I would soon loose interest if couldn't master it fairly quickly.  I know that the price range for cameras is vast but fire away, send me your recommendations and then I will be able to make a decision.  At the moment I'm floundering. 
Thank you, in anticipation.

Monday 6 May 2013

Pry House Lambing Sheds

 Our lambing sheds have been extra busy this year.  Ewes that have had twins are given their own pen    until we are sure they have both bonded with their mum.  All our sheep are scanned and if they are expecting twins given a blue marks on their back (see sheep in centre of photo).  As soon as I spot a sheep lambing I look to see if she has a blue mark and then know to watch out for one or two lambs. 
Sheep with singles stay in the main shed area.  Pens are erected at both ends of the shed as well as in smaller buildings and stables in the yard.  At our busiest time we had 31 sheep penned up.  That meant 31 water buckets to fill and 31 haynets to replenish twice a day and an awful lot of lambs to ensure were feeding.  Exhausting!  However today has been a beautiful May day and we have turned out, into the field, all but one.  Only one water bucket and one haynet to fill.  HEAVEN!  

Lambing Time Surprises!


Imagine my surprise when, returning home late one evening, I found this ewe and lamb settling down for the night outside my back door!
 

Chris creeps out with a bag of sugar beet to tempt her away!


So that's how the other half live!


Its definately true; the grass is greener on the other side!

Can I come too?


No need for a lawn mower!
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